New King James Version
Acts 27:12
12And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
Acts 27:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
- New International Version (NIV)Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
Context of Acts 27:12
10saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. 13When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
Read all of Acts 27Acts 27:12 word by word
Ἀνευθέτου δὲ τοῦ λιμένος ὑπάρχοντος πρὸς παραχειμασίαν οἱ πλείονες ἔθεντο βουλὴν ἀναχθῆναι ἐκεῖθεν, εἴ πως δύναιντο καταντήσαντες εἰς Φοίνικα παραχειμάσαι λιμένα τῆς Κρήτης βλέποντα κατὰ λίβα καὶ κατὰ χῶρον.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- because the havenλιμήνlimēn · HavensG3040
- wasὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- not commodiousἀνεύθετοςaneuthetos · unsuitableG428
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- winter inπαραχειμασίαparacheimasia · winteringG3915
- the more partπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119
- advisedτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
- ·βουλήboulē · planG1012
- to departἀνάγωanagō · to leadG321
- thence alsoκἀκεῖθενkakeithen · and from thereG2547
- if by any meansεἴπωςei pōs · if somehowG1513
- they mightδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- attainκαταντάωkatantaō · to come toG2658
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- PheniceΦοῖνιξPhoinix · PhoenixG5405
- to winterπαραχειμάζωparacheimazō · to winterG3914
- of CreteΚρήτηKrētē · CreteG2914
- and liethβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- towardκατάkata · according toG2596
- the south westλίψlips · southwestG3047
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- north westχῶροςchōros · northwestG5566
Cross-references for Acts 27:12
- Acts 27:8Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
- Psalms 107:30Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.
- Acts 27:7When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
Commentaries on Acts 27:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Might attain to Phoenice - It appears that the Fair Havens were at the eastern end of the island, and they wished to reach Phoenice, which lay farther towards the west. Toward the south-west and north-west - . The libs certainly means the south-west, called libs, from Libya, from which it blows to. wards the Aegean Sea. The chorus, or caurus, means a north-west wind. Virgil mentions this, Geor. iii. ver. 356. Semper hyems, semper spirantes frigora cauri…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The haven - The fair havens, Acts 27:8. Was not commodious to winter in - Not safe or convenient to remain there. Probably it furnished rather a safe anchorage ground in time of a storm than a convenient place for a permanent harbor. The more part - The greater part of the crew. To Phenice - In the original this is Phoenix - ͂ FoinixSo it is written by Strabo. The name was probably derived from the palmtrees which were common in Crete. This was a port or…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale, know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easily take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, and have no light. See…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The winds from the southeast made Fair Havens not a safe harbor for winter. Phoenix, a town further up the coast of Crete, offered a better harbor.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Phenice--"Phenix," now called Lutro. which lieth toward the southwest and northwest--If this means that it was open to the west, it would certainly not be good anchorage! It is thought therefore to mean that a wind from that quarter would lead into it, or that it lay in an easterly direction from such a wind [Smith]. Ac 27:13 seems to confirm this.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 27:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries